James Dickson Innes (1887-1914) - Borghese Gardens in Rome with view of Vatican

There are currently two known works of Rome by Innes (including this one), suggesting he either briefly visited the city or used sketches from a fellow artist. The other work is titled 'Pincio' (presumely depicting the Pincio Prommenade in Rome) and was sold at Phillips Auctioneers on 13th March 1997. Interestingly, the dimensions of our watercolour are almost identical to this picture. Our work depicts the famous Villa Borghese Gardens in Rome with St Peter's Basilica in the background. The intimacy of the scene and the use of shade from the overhanging tree branches helps to suggest that this work was painted by Innes himself in Rome. The watercolour depicts a warm afternoon with many of the visitors to the gardens seeking the shade of the trees along with the artist himself.
 
After Innes was diagnosed with tuberculosis the artist was advised to travel abroad with warmer weather being important to his recovery. This meant a lot of his work was painted abroad in France, Spain, Morocco and other European countries between 1908 and 1913. 
 
Medium: watercolour, signed l.l. 'J.D Innes', 35.2 x 23.6 cm, mounted (note, there is a small bump in the bottom right hand corner of the mount, this will be covered with a frame).
 
Provenance: Bill Thomson's Collection (Albany Gallery owner); Bonhams 'British and Continental Watercolours and Drawings' sale on 26th November  2002, lot 164.